MILFORD – With the contract for nursing services currently costing the town more than $66,000, health officials are considering hiring their own nurse for Milford to save money and provide more individualized service.

“We’re happy with the VNA, but we’re just wondering if we reached the point where we need our own (nurse),” said Health Agent Paul Mazzuchelli.

He added that the possible cost savings is “one of the main reasons” they are considering the possibility.

Mazzuchelli said Milford pays significantly more than the other eight communities in which the VNA provides services. He noted Milford began paying more in 2007 after a tuberculosis outbreak led to an increased need for nursing services. While tuberculosis cases have subsided, Mazzuchelli said they are still taking a proactive approach to the disease.

“Where Milford has reached a certain point in population, we’re looking into whether we should have our own individual public health nurse,” said Mazzuchelli, also noting the diversity of the Milford community.

Mazzuchelli said the Board of Health is still in the beginning stages of looking into hiring its own nurse.

“We’ve never hired a nurse before,” said Mazzuchelli, noting the VNA’s contract goes back to the 1970s.

He said they are looking at hiring someone part-time and are considering the possibility of sharing Upton’s public health nurse, Trish Parent, who has been working there part-time for 20 years.

Mazzuchelli said the board met with Parent at a meeting a couple of weeks ago to discuss the idea.

“She is very geared toward public health nursing,” Mazzuchelli said. “She is familiar with the responsibilities of a Board of Health … and what may require some kind of medical assistance.”

Lindsay Corcoran can be reached at 508-634-7582 or lcorcoran@wickedlocal.com. For Milford news throughout the day, follow her on Twitter @LacorcMDN.